J526 - Huge Basilosaurid cf Pappocetus (Whale Ancestor) Molar Teeth in Partial Dentary Bone

Nicely preserved premolar and molar teeth from cf Pappocetus lugardi, a type of protocetid cetacean (early whale ancestor). They are still positioned within the partial right dentary bone and naturally associated with it. These outstanding teeth come from the Middle Eocene-age Aridal and Samlat Formations, located in the Western Sahara near Gueran, Morocco. They're commonly found associated with teeth of the shark Otodus sokolovi (Carcharocles auriculatus), a megalodon ancestor.

There are few glued stabilized filled cracks through the crown and the dentary bone has spots of gap fill restoration. But nothing serious. Its an amazing specimen. They are last premolar and first molar of right dentary.

Pappocetus lugardi is an extinct species of protocetid whale that lived during the Eocene epoch (approximately 40–44 million years ago) in Africa. As a transitional form between land and sea, this amphibious, 20–25 foot long carnivore is considered an ancestor of Basilosaurus and represents a crucial stage in whale evolution. 

Key Facts About Pappocetus lugardi
Discovery: First described by C.W. Andrews in 1920 based on fossils from the Ameki Formation in Nigeria. Additional specimens have been found in the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Evolutionary Position: Pappocetus belongs to the family Protocetidae, which are early, amphibious whales that could likely move on land using their large limbs, while also being capable swimmers.
Physical Characteristics:
Size: Estimated to be around 20-25 feet in length.
Diet/Habits: A large, amphibious, aquatic carnivore with robust teeth, likely relying on vision and smell for hunting.
Appearance: More whale-like than its predecessors, with a streamlined body, yet retaining functional, though reduced, hind limbs.
Fossil Record: Known from jaw fragments, teeth, and skull material.
Relation to Modern Whales: While it was a transitional form, it is unlikely to have possessed the modern echolocation abilities found in later cetaceans. 

Basilosaurus (The Giant Snake) - Jurassic Dreams Blog